World Venture Travel

Thinking about spending time in Marrakech, Morocco reminds us of the many movies that have been made with the sand dune land scape. There is always someone chasing someone else through the red, orange and amber hews of the endless hills of sand. The subjects are all dressed in robe-like attire with head dresses and flowing scarves blowing in the wind and they ride their camel to safety.

Today, in real life, visiting the sand dunes is a completely different experience. The tours from hotels in Marrakech will pick you up and sweep you out onto the red sand in off road vehicles like jeeps and quads. If you go with a company that specializes in touring the area such as Dunes and Desert you will have the chance to see the desert area in many different ways.

They offer off road  as well as other adventures like trekking and water rafting. They have hiking trips that last from one day, for the easy level to 3 days, which takes on the more advanced level of hiking. Just when you thought the desert didn’t have any water you will be pleasantly surprised on the water rafting trip down the near by rivers. Check with the marrakech hotels for a more romantic adventure, there are still some great camel tours that, for most, would be a trip of a life time.

There are plenty of areas in Dallas to find the night life scene that is best for you and your friends. Deep Ellum area is all about the artists and the musicians with its bohemian flair. Never a dull moment in any of the establishments in that warehouse district, even in the day time.

Greenville Avenue is were you want to go if you like bars and pubs. Find a seat inside The Ginger Man Pub who prides itself on the wonderful selection of foreign and domestic beer as well as some great wines. It is an easy going environment to hang out it and they celebrate the beer festivals from all over the world.

If you like great Irish pubs then ditch the best dallas hotels for a night at Trinity Hall Irish Pub. This is were your going to see live Irish bands play while sipping on your favorite beer.

Great bar and restaurant hopping happens at one of the newest developments in Dallas called Mockingbird Station. This destination fun spot has lots of retail stores, restaurants, bars and movie theatres. A great place to do some shopping, have some dinner, catch a movie and then turn up the heat in a night club.

If you’ve just arrived in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, and want to orient yourself to the cultural and natural offerings of this country, then a first day trip to the National Museum of the Philippines may be an excellent way to start.

Established nearly 110 years ago, in 1901, the museum’s own history parallels the course of the turbulent 20th Century — beginning as the Insular Museum of Ethnology, Natural History and Commerce, and renamed the Philippine Museum in 1904. At various times, the museum was renamed and, at times, abolished altogether, especially during the Japanese occupation during World War II. In 1945, though, after the liberation of the Philippines, the museum was re-established.

Today, the museum’s main purpose is to aid in the creation of cultural consciousness, instilling pride among the Filipino citizenry with exhibits and events that promote culture, education, and the sciences. It’s divided into two buildings — the Old Congress Building (containing arts and natural sciences), and the former Finance Building (housing the sections devoted to anthropology and archaeology). In the section known as the National Museum of the Filipino People, you’ll discover exhibits focusing on the history and culture of the Philippines.

In order to get to the museum, a cab is recommended from the Manila hotels to Valenciana Circle (aka Agrifina Circle) in Rizal Park. It’s an excellent way to achieve an in-depth understanding of the nation. Be sure, though, to arrive at least before 3:30 in the afternoon. The museum closes at about 4 p.m., and to truly appreciate all the museum has to offer, you’ll certainly want to spend more than half an hour.

While in Jerusalem you will more than likely be visiting the Tower of David. This adventure could take you some time. You may want to head over in the later afternoon because as the night settles in on this impressive historical landmark, special activities light up.

Standing at the entrance of the old city is this historical museum that gives incredible historical information as well as a 360 degree view of the city of Jerusalem. The museum itself is inside the guardrooms of the medieval citadel.

People come into the jerusalem hotels from all over the world to explore this amazing place. They get a chance to see the history of Jerusalem and learn things that they may not have read about. They can plug into the audio tour as they move through the different exhibits and learn more about what they are seeing.

The Tower of David is the center of 4000 years of Jerusalem history as well as more modern life. There are often special activities going on at different times of the year. At night the citadel is light up with brilliant lights as music plays making it a wonderfully romantic experience. An incredible journey not to be missed.

For anyone who’s ever had to drive across the country, in either direction, the first thing that people notice about Kansas is that it’s long. It’s so long, in fact, that it’s the second, third, and fourth thing that people notice. Sometimes, that’s the only impression. A lot of corn fields, and some small towns. But for anyone who’s ever stopped in Kansas, it’s clear that this is one of the most pleasant places anyone could ever set foot.

There are very good reasons why people from the state have a reputation that precedes them, where courtesy and intelligence come with equal measure. Down to earth is a good description of almost every town, and even the big cities are down to earth in their own way. It makes it a great place to visit, and a great place for hotels. Kansas is a place of very comfortable surprises, and there are times of the year when it’s just delightful.

One of the most interesting community events here, or any place for that matter, happens on Fat Tuesday every year. In the olden days it was called Shrove Tuesday, for the shriving of sins to start off lent with a clean slate. In Liberal, Kansas, they still call it Shrove Tuesday, just as they do in Olney, England. On this day, both cities participate in an international competition, a Pancake Race .

On this day, over 500 years ago in Olney, so the story goes, a woman was making pancakes before church services. She was using all the fats available, since no one could cook with these during the lenten season. When she was almost done, the bells sounded, and she had to run to church to avoid being late. She grabbed the skilled, flipped it once, and carried it with her, pancake firmly in tow, and benefiting from the simmering heat.

This event’s what has inspired the people of Olney to hold the same race every year, and in 1950, Liberal, Kansas was invited to take part. It’s a competition between the cities, judged by video, and the people of both countries see it as a way to produce mutual understanding between nations. It’s also an excuse to have a great party. The times for running the 415 yards are recorded , and lists of all the years are kept. There are also talent shows, concerts, kids races, and lots and lots of pancakes.

Augusta Georgia is one of those rare historic southern cities that retains a great deal of its original charm and atmosphere. And while it is certainly a contemporary city, and even hosts one of the largest golf tournaments in the United States, it also contains much of its early architecture, which gives the city an historic genteel feel. The hotels Augusta frequently housed some of the old estates and private homes and this contributes to the guests’ feelings of almost being transported to another place and time. And one of the great aspects of visiting Augusta is the fact that you can enjoy much of its historic elements as well as those that are standard aspects of the contemporary society and culture.

Augusta dates from 1736, which makes it the second oldest city in Georgia. It was established just three years after Savannah. The residents are friendly and guests encounter a true sense of southern hospitality when they arrive there. And while there are a number of enticing things for people to do when they visit Augusta there are also some standard favorite attractions. One of the main centers of attraction for tourists is the Riverwalk area . This beautiful part of the city has concerts and various performances throughout the year and there are also great cafes and restaurants.

The Morris Museum of Art is another standard stop for tourists in the city. It has one of the finest collections of 18th century art, stills and portraits in the southeast. It also has an impressive collection of contemporary works. The Imperial Theatre is one of the favorite attractions for many tourists and is a standard place to spend an evening. It presents quality entertaining performances, such as this summer’s hit The Motown Review, and also shows films. Performances here are one of the things tourists leave town still talking about.

Florence is an ancient city whose origins stretch back nearly two thousand years when it was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BC as a settlement camp for his veteran soldiers. Then it was named Florentia (“the flourishing”) and built in the style of an army camp; however, as it was the main route between Rome and the North, it became an important commercial center. While travel to the city centuries ago may have been difficult, today it’s no trouble to arrange for your choice of hotel. Florence , over the centuries, has become a focal point for culture and art. Starting with the Renaissance, the city has been hailed as the home or birthplace of some of the most recognizable names in history, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo , Donatello, Machiavelli, Botticelli, Galileo Galilei, and Florence Nightingale.

One of the most recognizable sites in the city includes the Palazzo Vecchio (in English, that’s the “Old Palace”), and it was built in 1299, 711 years ago, when the residents of Florence wanted a palace that was worthy of the city’s importance, and to provide better security when times were bad.

The architect of the Duomo and the Santa Croce church, Arnolfo di Cambio, began working on it on the ruins of Palazzo dei Fanti and Palazzo dell’Esecutore di Giustizia. Building on these ruins, he incorporated the structure of an ancient tower, which is why the rectangular tower that reaches as high as 308 feet is built off-center. The tower also contains two small prison cells, used in the 15th century, as well as a clock, which was designed originally by Nicolo Bernardo, but was replaced in 1667 with a clock made by Vincenzo Viviani.

While the Palazzo Vecchio is largely a museum today — the Museum of Children — it still represents local government; since 1872, the building has contained the office of the mayor of Florence, and it’s also the seat of the City Council. The museum, made up of two theaters, a multi-media room, and more, provide activities for everyone from toddlers to adolescents, from young adults to octogenarians; age at the museum is not as important as maintaining a curiosity and interest in life and culture.

Once you’ve finished visiting the Old Palace, take a walk through the Piazza della Signoria, where you’ll find a copy of Michelangelo’s David, as well as an entire gallery of statues in the Loggia dei Lanzi .

When the size and scope of Miami’s energy is a bit more overwhelming than one might want for a vacation on the beach, Coral Gables is an excellent alternative. It’s close enough to Miami to enjoy all of its culture and nightlife, but still a fairly small town as far as cities go. It’s still very cosmopolitan, with a diverse population that favors Spanish over English by a small margin. It’s also a very walkable city, making it a perfect place to come spend some time enjoying some quiet time at the beach, as well as participating in the lively social scene.

Coral Gables might not have the glitz and the glamour of its neighbor cities, but it does have its share of famous daughters and sons. Mimi Rogers , one of Hollywood’s most enduring actresses, is from here. Her most famous roles on the big screen include the role of Elizabeth Hurley’s mother in the Austin Powers hit, International Man of Mystery, and The Rapture. The latter was the film that really secured her position as a talent who could evoke deep sensuality, and a wide emotional range played with unusual intelligence.

Her intelligence, in fact, is one of her defining characteristics. She is a member of Mensa , the organization that celebrates high IQs, and she also graduated high school at age 14. Instead of going straight into college, she spent her teen years doing community service work. These are her real strengths, and they should eventually eclipse the temporary fame she unintentionally received for being married to Tom Cruise for a few years. She has also done a great deal of work for television, with a very powerful and memorable role in the X-Files, an appearance on King of the Hill, and some work with Geena Davis on her show.

She is also a world-class poker player, and these days that game occupies more of her time than the Hollywood one. While its unlikely to run into Mimi Rogers at the city’s hotels, Coral Gables does offer smart and splendid fun in a brilliantly lovely setting.

We filled in the swamps and built theme park after theme park on top of them. Now sometimes when people travel to Orlando they are so sick of theme parks that they dread the trip, but the truth is that they don’t have to. Orlando is a lot more than going to theme parks. Once settled into one of the four star hotels Orlando ., here are a few ideas for those people who don’t have to travel with kids, or are just sick of the happiest place on earth.

Forever Florida has a great option for those people seeking an escape from their normal life. Try ziplining over Orlando and experiencing some of the most beautiful sights nature has to offer from the comfort of the sky as you travel at twenty five miles per hour over the heads of alligators, bears, and more. They also offer other types of safaris such as a more traditional coach ride, or on horse back, but the zipline is by far the most memorable of them all.

Hang out on the beach. Many people ditch the theme parks every day to go hang out in the perfect weather on the beach, enjoy the sun, and soak in the beach culture. There are a few to choose from but the most common to go hang out at is Cocoa Beach.

If flying and beaches aren’t your thing, try the Kennedy Space Center . If you wanted to use a bad pun you could say that it was out of this world. Seriously though, you can experience a shuttle launch, without having to be in the shuttle, immerse yourself in the sky above with a number of IMAX films about space, and much more. This is perfect either for the adult who has always wanted to get into space and never did, or for the kids who are still dreaming of becoming an astronaut.

If you just want to get out in nature without having to feel like taking a safari, or trekking through the unknown, take a calming, relaxing horse back ride with the Horse World Riding Stables. They offer lessons, information on how to take care of horses and even have some beautiful trails to take the horses out on. Be aware that there is some interesting wildlife on these trails as they have not been completely tamed and you may see an armadillo, squirrel, or other small creatures.

A trip to New York City’s Central Park will take tourists into worlds they didn’t know existed, such as the Ukrainian Institute of America , located at 2 East 79th Street. The Institute exists to promote a greater understanding and appreciation in the United States of both Ukraine’s contemporary and traditional arts, music, literature, history and culture. It also has a goal of developing a stronger sense of community and identity among those people of Ukrainian descent through concerts and lectures and exhibits. For this reason, stopping by the Ukrainian Institute will provide visitors with a number of interesting opportunities to see fascinating Ukrainian exhibits and performances.

Events at the Institute don’t appear to be set too far in advance, at least not on their website, so it’s a good idea to check on what programs are offered, especially if you’re staying near Central Park . Most recently, the Institute offered music by pianist Valentina Lisitsa, who performed Chopin’s Twenty Four Etudes on April 24th. The cost of such an event is about thirty dollars; it’s five dollars cheaper if you’re an UIA member or a senior. If you’re a student, it’s ten dollars cheaper. The Ukraine in Photography, an ongoing exhibit by Yevgen Kovtonyuk, may be seen through May 16th. The gallery will be open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to six in the evening.

Of even greater interest to fans of architecture is the historic mansion which houses the Ukrainian Institute. This mansion falls in the middle of Central Park’s Museum Mile, that also includes the Guggenheim Museum and the Frick Collection . This amazing house is designed in a French Renaissance style, and was built in 1898 when a railroad investor and banker, Isaac Fletcher, commissioned famed architect C.P.H. Gilbert to construct a home using as a template the neo-Loire Valley chateau of William Vanderbilt. The original owner so liked the home that he hired an artist to paint it. The painting, by Jean Francois Raffaelli, was then given to the nearby Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917.

When a person thinks about the city of Boston, Massachusetts the first thing that comes to mind is rarely rock and roll or famous bands. Much more often they think of historical events that are associated with it, such as the Boston Tea Party, and other major occurrence that have taken place throughout the centuries. And yes, I said centuries, Boston is one of the oldest and most historically relevant cities in the nation. With that said, another main attraction that many guests in the city and regional hotels is all of the great buildings and historical architectural features found there. Great cultural establishments and major landmarks round out the typical realm of popular association.

This great American city is chalk full of amazing symbolic and relevant landmarks and historical markers. From the Paul Revere House to the Bunker Hill Monument, these and numerous others represent one of the most fundamental aspects of the beginning of this country. The Paul Revere House is located on the North Square, in the historic district, and marks the actual location where this silversmith began his infamous midnight ride into that fateful night in 1775. The house was built in 1680 and remains as the oldest house in Boston. Several of Revere’s belongings are included in the display items.

Bunker Hill represents the bravery and courage demonstrated by the revolutionists during one of the major early battles. The 220 foot tower represents both their success and losses and stands as a testament to the great sacrifice and efforts of these first citizens of the country. The monument was built and dedicated in 1843 and includes a spiral staircase leading to the lookout at the very top. Amazing panoramic views of Boston can be seen from that position. There are plenty of displays and exhibits that depict and explain how the battle unfolded. The British won this battle though they suffered heavy losses and solidified the hope of the Americans.

In Singapore, one of the more interesting historic buildings to visit is Chijmes . Originally, the building complex was a convent and convent quarters known as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (or CHIJ) and the Caldwell House. The Caldwell House was built in the central business district of Singapore in the downtown core in about 1840, approximately 170 years ago. The chapel was built much more recently, in 1904, just 106 years past. Today, the chapel is a hall used for various purposes, known as Chijmes Hall, and Caldwell House is now an art gallery; both structures have been declared national monuments, which house shops, restaurants, and entertainment centers. The hall is used often for theater, music, and, on occasion, weddings.

Those travelers with an interest in history will definitely want to make a stop at Chijmes after they’ve checked into their Singapore hotels . Once at the site, they’ll be able to appreciate the architecture and story of the building, which began when four nuns from France arrived in Singapore to establish a convent. They arrived in February of 1854 and lived in what is now the Caldwell House. The architecture of the Caldwell House was created by George Drumgoole Coleman in a Neoclassical style. The nuns began taking in students ten days after moving in, creating not simply a convent, but a school and orphanage, as well as a refuge center for women. The life of the convent was set down in diaries, kept in seven volumes by convent scribes. The diaries cover the history of the convent, from 1851 through 1971, handwritten in French. The diaries, known as Annales de Singapour, provide a detailed hundred years plus look at life in a convent.

When the Saint Nicholas Girls’ School began in 1933, it first held classes in bungalows that were a part of the Hotel Van Wijk, but they later moved to the convent in 1949. The school was moved again in 1985 to Ang Mo Kio. And the chapel itself quit functioning as a chapel on November 3, 1983, with the last religious service and the deconsecration of the church. Much later, taking five and a half years of restoration and construction, Chijmes is now as you may see it today: a plaza offering retail shops and restaurants, a kind of secular peaceful spot in the hub of Singapore.

Traveling back and forth and wearing an exquisitely sleek and altogether inappropriate ensemble, made of different colors of cowskin, he was wondering when this wandering would settle in one place. This wasn’t the first time these thought would come. They got keener and more exacting the more he enjoyed time in the desert on the water. This was a real Los Angeles, not the one constructed with sand in the imaginations of children. This is what Hollywood decided was the perfect mother for itself, right before moving in to be born.

It’s hard to evade a mystery as powerful as that, and at the same time, hard to evade anything that was calling, and there was so much. It would be simpler if there were nothing preventing the crossing over, but there always is, only this was more difficult than anything else he could imagine. Suddenly, an image.

He is where he is supposed to be and he is older, a version of himself that is making sense, and not unreadable to many who once thought him too dense to bother with. She is there to ask questions, because something very important is about to happen, and he’s been there before. She is nervous and has been chewing her lip again, and this, the scariest part.

She once imagined how it might be better to be touching a source, throwing ideas out of the mind and into a workable container, where they could be seen, and it happens in a city. It begins with a trip and a hotel in a real Los Angeles, and it comes together when it should.

This is a moment crossed over on the edges of many deserts, this place and that place countering each other with an enormous familiarity. This is a tempo that is worth following because this is a moment that shifts, and cannot utter anything except itself, and life goes on into something as deep and exquisite as a symphony .

While many people, okay probably most people, associate the city of Los Angeles the entertainment industry, particularly the film industry in Hollywood, there are actually a great number of other major cultural elements that are part of the city’s renown establishments. The Los Angeles Philharmonic is one of these and it has been frequently described by critics as one of, if not the, most progressive and contemporary minded orchestras in the country. It is well loved and supported by the community and tourists are frequently interested in attending one of its concerts while they are in town. Information on this and other major companies is usually available at the front desk or hotel lobby in many of the area resorts.

The orchestra performs its winter season at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and throughout the summer they perform at the Hollywood Bowl. The company’s Conductor Laureate, Esa-Pekka Salonen supports the progressive comments about the orchestra with philosophy that is oriented toward creating the future and not reproducing the past, which is common to many classical music organizations. Gustavo Dudamel, the company’s Music Director, supports this perspective.

The orchestra was originally founded and entirely financed by William Andrews Clark, Jr. He was an avid arts enthusiast, a part time violinist and also a copper baron who in 1919 financed the beginning of this orchestra. His original choice for the orchestra’s first Music director was Sergei Rachmaninoff , who declined the offer only because he had just moved to New York and did not want to move right away again. This tradition of high standards and expectations of excellence remains strong with the philharmonic and they have made recordings of many of their performances and have featured some top guest artists throughout the years. Whether you plan to be in Los Angeles in the summer, winter or any season in-between there should be a concert by this company available to attend.

The trip was planned to take place somewhere out of time, someplace where there was no address, and there was a promise that there would be no memories to take along, when things were over.  This was a promise because of the things that I once saw, and the things that I can’t forget over there.  In these times, we sometimes forget even how we woke up that morning before it’s even time for lunch.  Other times, it’s impossible to forget the way some things feel on the tongue.  I could have been just as easily entertained with a side order, but this was turning into the whole meal, and the main course was still so very far away.

His reputation was still rather impeccable, even after all this time, where there were surely some truths about him that made their way around the literary circles.  I would try to do my part to keep it as spotless as possible, if for no other reason than we did not want to remember it any other way.  It would be simple.  Meet in a Chinese Restaurant first, then discover the news in our particular disciplines, and then perhaps, see something of Singapore, but only if there was time.  Secretly, I sensed that there would of course be time, but that was only because it was an obvious side effect of our meetings.

When he was talking about his work, that is when things would start to open up for me.  There were worlds that were bright green and red coming from his tongue, and I could never see his eyes, so could not describe the excitement, although the manner was certainly of someone who was excited beyond measure.  The biggest impression still was and is one of mystery.  I don’t know how he managed that for so long, and never gave a clue that would ever reveal himself.  Perhaps he had nothing to reveal.

Po’ Boys and crawfish, seafood jambalaya and red beans and rice, zydeco music and dancing.  It is the time for the Fat Tuesday celebrations, and while Huntsville, Alabama is not in New Orleans, it is in the south.  And there is no better region to be in right now than in the Southern region of the United States.  There are many different traditions throughout the world that revolve around this holiday.  One thing that they have in common is that it is a day in which to indulge a bit, before the upcoming fasts of Lent.

The Mardi Gras celebrations precede Ash Wednesday, and the celebrations include not only dancing and having fun, but getting the last little bit of rich and indulgent food in, before the following forty days of restrictions.  In some countries this is also known as Pancake Tuesday.  Donuts and pancakes are rich and sweet, and when one is looking at giving up the foods of pleasure for a while, of course they want to have a bit to carry them through.

In the Southern States of America, the food is rich, but it is spicy too.  Crawfish festivals abound, and the old timers instruct the newbies on just how to squeeze the tail and suck the head.  The celebrations in the smaller town of Huntsville, Alabama will be incredible, but much lower of a key than those that will be taking place in New Orleans, so many opt for this calmer way to celebrate.  Many of the hotels will be offering travel and accommodation discounts, for a list of those check here. There will be feasts of Cajun food and local favorites, Dynamic Duo and Mambo Gris Gris will be playing Zydeco Music all night, and the dancing will carry on until far into the evening, the same Southern celebration of Fat Tuesday, without the crowds of people.

History begins with the word.  The crossroads between writing and speaking are where a curious magic starts to happen, and at this point civilizations have an opportunity to share their resources and their wisdom, or to take another path.  It’s a remarkable gesture to the compassion of time when there can be something like wisdom and talent in the same body, like a bottle that hold precious liquids that can offer the secrets to eternity.  The bottle does not know what it carries.  It’s one of the great things in New York where you can enter the city, check into a business hotel, and let New York unfold before your eyes.

You have the chance to witness scenes or to make them up on your own, and there’s never a wrong choice.  People from here understand the temptation to participate in everything, and know firsthand what it’s like to burn out in a hundred directions at once.  There are histories worth knowing here, however, and one of the most essential in these times would be the history of rap music.  This is a serious point of contention in some neighborhoods, and in others it’s a conversation, but it’s a good idea to know something about it.  It’s part of the history of the human being, after all, and it will be around for many years to come.  Many people put the original rapper somewhere in the 70s, and others would say it comes from much older sources.

These are all true enough, and accurate enough, but it’s also more precise to say that rap music began on June 14, 1968.  This is the day that the Last Poets gave a recital on a rooftop in the South Bronx, mixing spoken word with music in a way that was revolutionary.  David Nelson, Gylan Kain, and Abiodun Oyewole began this project in part as a response to the death of MLK.  It was also a response to 400 years of history.  It was also a response to living in human skin with African ancestors.   These things all have something to do with it.

Virginia Tech is one of the quality research institutions in the nation. It was originally known as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College when it was established in 1872. That also makes it one of the nation’s oldest institutions for higher education. Throughout the years it has expanded its academic offerings and today it is the most populated with full time student enrollment status of all of Virginia’s universities. The university maintains its three fold perspective approach to education, which is a trio of missions for learning, discovery and engagement. This is definitely a progressive school that continues to expand its horizons as it continues to enter into new ages of society and educational orientations.

The school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and offers 65 different bachelor degree programs in its nine colleges and graduate school. There is a student body of over 30,000 full time attendees and this number continually grows. The university maintains a standard student ratio of sixteen students to one instructor. The main campus exists on an area of 2,600 acres. It has been ranked at number 46 of the nation’s research universities.

Virginia Tech continues to attract a diverse population of students from both instate and around the country. It is a common sight for parents and potential students to visit one of the area hotels and tour the campus before enrolling. Some general enrollment and information related to the applicant acceptance status includes the statistic that over 21,000 applications for freshmen enrollment were received for the fall semester of 2009. Of those, the majority of students who were invited to attend class at the college held a frequent high school gpa of 3.94. These are important pieces of information to gather when considering any college and it testifies to the competitive nature of higher education.

This is going to be a big year for music fans, and like usual, the center of attention will be in New York City.  It’s difficult to argue for the city as the center of rock and roll, the way it once was, once upon a time.  There are lots of cities that can now claim to have spectacular histories of music, and a fair share of musical geniuses.  Cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, and Athens all have major legacies, and there are perhaps hundreds more all over the world right now with the same claim.  It’s a good time to be alive, generally, and this year will be a good time for New York’s luxury hotels, hosting some of the fans and the bands.

March will see the next round of inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the list of nominees is very impressive this year.  Lots of bands that have deserved the award for a long time are here: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, and Donna Summer all stand alongside the more novelty groups like KISS and ABBA.  Some people like KISS, but there are those who saw through their attempt to cash in on glam when they first started, and are still waiting for talent to make itself known.

So far, nothing.  However, this should be a banner year for the RHCP.  This extreme energy band that’s played a combination of punk, hiphop, and funk, has had a stellar run of it, with enormous downs along with many ups.  And lately, their work is marked by an unusually steady and welcome sense of balance.  Their new album is also due out this year, and it’s time that one of the more interesting bands from the other side of the country gets their contribution acknowledged.  They’ve often spoken our language and our rhythms, so their entry into the hall of fame would be a win for all of us.

Washington is an incredibly interesting state. That statement applies to its culture as well as its geography. The Cascade Mountains divide much of the state and the climate and geography is completely different depending on which side you’re on. The western portion of the state is more coastal oriented and cities like Seattle receive some of the highest percentages of rainfall in the country. Meanwhile, areas on the eastern edge of the state can be extremely dry throughout many seasons and a large number of people would be surprised to learn that some of the state’s eastern climate statistics are actually represented of Washington.

In addition, Washington has two major active volcanic mountains Mt. Saint Helens and Mt. Rainier. Mt. Saint Helens is located approximately ninety six miles south of Seattle. This volcano is one of the most famous in the nation due largely to the catastrophic eruption that occurred in 1980. The Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument was established as both a preservational aspect and to allow for follow up scientific study. Mt. Rainier is part of a national park of the same name. It is the most heavily glaciated mountain peak in the country’s lower forty eight states, with twenty six major glaciers. It also has thirty five square miles of permanent glaciers and snowfall.

Puget Sound is one of the most popular geographic features of the state of Washington and it is located just off the coast of its most popular city, Seattle, although the name itself refers to the general region surrounding the actual sound and this includes the land area surrounding Seattle. The sound is dynamic and complex estuarine system that connects major and minor waterways and basins. The Washington State Ferries system is the major transportation service for the surrounding islands and the Washington mainland. There are also sight seeing and tourist oriented ferry services. Wherever you are in Washington there is plenty of geographic wonders and beauty to keep you captivated. And the Washington hotels and luxury resorts are there to provide you with fabulous accommodations.

There are some who might believe that Austin has gotten less weird over the past few years, but they are in a minority for certain.  The wheel has already been set in motion, long before we ever got here, and some wheels start to spin spontaneously, and some are guided by ancestors that speak inspirations from a land far beyond.  It’s not the perfect time in history, nor is it the place, any place, to determine the weird no place and every place that Austin can be.  It’s one of those unspeakable energies that cannot be evaluated while it is performing is natural mystic magic but only is open for assessment later, much later.  All we can know for now is that Austin has hotels and they are lovely, and you will have a lovely time here.

It’s not the time to decide, or even guess, at the long-term effects of Greg Romero because it’s simply much too soon.  We can know for certain, however, that he was part of a series of coincidences here that caused the wheels that were already set in motion to spin just a bit faster, and a bit stranger, which means that Austin will remember him because he understood where he was when he was here.  This experimental playwright (among many other hats) has left footprints, and coming to Austin and looking at living memories reveals some of his day-glo traces over all the important sacred cows.

Not that Romero doesn’t like cows.  The deeply compassionate vision is elaborated in plays like The Most Beautiful Lullaby Ever Heard, and can also be found in public acts that move art backwards into dada while it moves into the great ceiling fan of the future, the one that will chop us all up unless we learn how to burp.  These acts include taking extremely small donations from large groups of people, and shaving his beard in public.  This is an electric word machine, with one conduit to pop culture, and one to the angel of history, and simultaneously stalked by Cajun pookas who know your mother.  His influences come from everywhere, and he brought them here with him, for a time, and now has gone to the four winds and scattered, or is perhaps in Philly, where it will be nice to meet him for a beer or a coffee sometime.

When I was a teenager living in Phoenix, Arizona, there was an amusement park known as Legend City; it wasn’t Disneyland, but it was a large park, with carnival-style rides and even dark rides, such as the Lost Dutchman Mine, where you’d climb into a mining car and roll on the tracks through a spooky Old West ghost town.  Eventually, Legend City shut down and became part of local history, but other cities managed to hold onto their older amusement parks, bringing them all the way from the 1940s and into the 2010s.  Joyland in Lubbock, Texas, is one such place. 
 
Originally, in the late 1940s, Joyland was known as the Mackenzie Park Playground, entertaining thousands.  By the 1960s, the park was on the decline, until Jimmy and Kate Dean purchased the park in 1973.  The Dean family owned a number of rides at amusement parks around the area, in such places Funland Park (Wichita Falls, TX), Cliffs Amusement Park (Albuquerque, NM), and Wonderland Park (Amarillo, TX).  They refurbished the park and changed its name to Joyland Amusement Park, establishing that this wasn’t the same old place with which people were familiar.  They began with thirteen rides; today, Joyland features over thirty rides and attractions.
 
The park is now operated by the second generation of the Dean family, and has become something of a west Texas tradition for the families of Lubbock.  Thirty-seven years ago, Joyland began with thirteen rides; today the park features over thirty rides and attractions, from a water coaster to roller coasters.  They have as well junior rides and carousels.
 
For whatever reason you’ve come to Lubbock — to view the Buddy Holly Center (Lubbock is, after all, the birthplace of Buddy Holly), to take a look at the Silent Wings Museum (a place designed to honor glider pilots of World War II) — stay the night in one of the many great hotels Lubbock has available for its visitors, and treat your family to a great little amusement park.

There are some things that are worth the risk, and sometimes the risking is even more important than any of the outcomes.  One of my favorite people in the world, a crazy Polish director who had a habit of wearing extremely long scarves, always talked about risk.  She said that it’s sometimes necessary to simply take enormous leaps, and then build wings while you’re falling.  She inspired me to keep pushing during times when I was convinced that the only thing left to do was give up.  She lives her life like she’s at a New York casino hotel, with access to the best of everything.

And every moment poses another series of possibilities for taking enormous chances, and for enormous successes as well.  Her definition of success was very different than most definitions, however, and depended on the level of experiment in any undertaking.  If something large was gambled, then it was a success.  We would often find ourselves in dark pubs after rehearsals, long after the other actors had left, talking about the theories of Witkacy, and wondering what might be possible right here, and right now.  The sense of hope and possibility was always extremely large and heavy on those evenings, and the next day was always followed by an equal share of despair.

We kept working though.  She had her projects, and I had mine, and every once in awhile our paths would cross and we would meet to confer.  I would run through the list of my daily confusions, which are always very large, and never hold up under any considered examination, and I would ask her if my version of reality made any sense, and if I could modify it somehow. She always had ideas, because she was a visionary through all those years.  She could offer a simple way of rephrasing something that could change the way it looked.  It was the power of invocation, because she had an alchemical way with words.  I learned how to risk from her, and everything that I’ve discovered since then is covered with a golden sheen that belongs to her alone.

My first impression of New York seemed quiet! The style of clothes the people were wearing seemed relaxed in comparison to London or for that matter all of the European major cities. Now, crossing the road in New York reminded me of Hong Kong where you have to wait or you’ll get honked at from every car. The taxi drivers are cool. I like seeing hot dog stands, pretzel stands and Halal stands at almost every corner. I saw tons of police either walking, on bicycles or on horseback, which actually made me feel very safe.
I did manage to cross Broadway to head up to Times Square with only one car honking at me. Then I went to Radio City Music Hall, where I just missed, from what I’ve heard, an amazing Christmas Extravaganza with special effects. I didn’t bother with Rockefeller Plaza, just wasn’t interested.

I really liked the fact that it’s virtually impossible to get lost in New York City, there are grid maps everywhere and they’re easy to understand. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the different New York accents. Can’t miss it really, most New Yorkers are a loud bunch. The ethnic mix here is worldly. There’s not a single country not represented here, and they all have their little areas of the city. I really appreciated just how diversified New York really is. I think all Americans need to come here and get a little taste of the world, that way they won’t be so paranoid about foreigners.

I booked my hotel on-line at this site: http://www.topnewyorkhotels.com, which, by-the-way is a top notch place, but I hardly ever used it, except to sleep; there’s just to much to do and see here in New York, and as you probably well know, the city doesn’t go to sleep, so it was especially hard to take any kind of respite in my hotel room.

I went to see ‘West Side Story’ on Broadway, and I thought the production was fantastic! It was a Spanish version, so it was a dream come true for me! After the show, I just had to walk around all night. New York is so totally different at night, the vibes different and people dress-up to the nines! Now, this is what I was waiting for! Let the party begin!

The city of Fort Collins Colorado has been voted one of the best places to live over the past few years. So come check into one of the nice hotels Fort Collins has waiting for you and see for yourself. The first incarnation of the military presence in this area was Camp Collins built along the Cache La Poudre River. It was built to help the Overland mail route during the Indian Wars in the 1960s. The river flooded the camp so they rebuilt in a better location long the river a few miles down at the direction of Colonel O. Collins who was in command of Fort Laramie in Wyoming.

With a well patrolled town on the road to the west, the settlers came right away. It soon turned from military fort to city as the settlers began to build schools, churches and agricultural farms. The original fort area can be found in the Old Town part of the city. The new town was incorporated in 1873. Agriculture was the main industry to the point that they built an agricultural college with the first classes held in 1870. Lamb was also a large industry in the early years of this city. It was once called the lamb feeding capital of the world. The next thing to come along in the early 1900s was the Great Western sugar plant built in near by Loveland.

Many businesses came and went as the demand of current times changed. The college built in 1870 is still a thriving college called Colorado State University.The city is centered and geared towards the students who attend this great university. This brings some great places to eat, good music to hear and great micro-brew beers to drink. Some of the brewing companies that have product shipped all over the US are the New Belgium Brewing Company, The Pateros Creek Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, one named after the city the Fort Collins Brewery. This is also a city of outdoor sports and festivals. So get out and enjoy nature while your here.

Folk tales and legends have a way with most of us.  They can catch the attention of most anyone, and children’s ears usually perk up when you start telling a story in the way it was meant to be told.  Even unfamiliar folk stories have a way of speaking to something in us, and they always sound so very familiar.  They may have that unusual mark of antiquity, where some stories bear multiple repetitions over time, or they may have worked their way into the popular imagination so that they indeed are familiar.  Perhaps we have heard a retelling from a distant relative, or we’ve seen a movie where the storyline is based on an original folk tale.  Traveling in the Rhine has that same uncanny sense, even without the folk tales, but they’re a splendid accompaniment to any journey here.

Cochem is one of the particularly interesting little towns, with a lot of history and a lot of mystery.  A castle that’s over a thousand years old, fantastic scenery, and a magnificent sense of the faraway are all available here.  It’s also spectacularly built for tourists, with a number of visitors coming through to taste the old world sensibility, as well as the hospitality.  Cochem’s hotels are terrifically equipped to provide all the comforts of the contemporary world, but in a wonderfully quaint setting.

It would be very much worth your while to pick up a copy of Wilhelm Ruland’s Legends of the Rhine before setting foot here.  It won’t help with any of the usual tourist attractions, but can offer a beautiful sense of the depth of folk cultures here.  Ruland lived and wrote between the 19th and 20th centuries, and the stories capture some of the inner life of the people who lived here, before the old ways of Europe had faded away completely into modernity.  The stories take place in multiple locations, and multiple times, but they all have that sense of existing somewhere in the olden days, and in Cochem, this time sometimes feels close again.

Yes if you find yourself wandering to the most western point of Europe you will be in Lisboa. So check out the hotels Lisboa has waiting for you and settle in for a little relaxation before turning back on your journey. This is the capital city of Portugal and is such a sunny pleasant place to be. It has as much history as many of the coastal port towns along Europe. The big claim to fame in the early years was the discovery voyage of Vasco da Gama as he returned to India. This was a city with an early air of culture. There were visits by so many explorers from many different countries. They came from South America, China, Macao, Inda and Goa. You may catch the adventures bug in this town created from explorers. There are some tours that can take you on the journey of the likes of Prince Henry the Navigator and of course Ferdinand Magellan.

As you tour through the city you will see all the influences of different times and cultures mixed in the architecture of the old buildings. Visit the Jeronimos Monastary, where Vasco da Gama is buried. It is a symbol of the wealth and power that Portugal had in the Age of Discovery. Inside this European Gothic monument you will also see the tomb of the poet Luis de Camoes who wrote about the glory of triumphs of Gama, and two other poets Fernando Pessao and Alexandre Herculano. Then there were also a couple of Kings like of course King Manuel and King Sebastiao.

All the voyages of discovery were protected as they came and went by the Belem Tower. It was the welcoming site of all who had been at sea for a long time. It was built by Fransisco de Arruda who was a known architect. It is a great place to check out an old Moorish style mixed with Venetian style architecture and decor.

Some of the best ghost stories in the world come from Singapore.  They have special organizations devoted to investigating the paranormal, and the belief in the spirits of the dead is fairly common.  It’s common among the cultures that make up most of Singapore.  From China, India, and Malaysia, there are many different traditions and customs that speak specifically to dealing with ghosts.  This is certainly not a hold-over from old-fashioned ideas at all, but comes from the world’s most widespread religion, ancestor worship, which is found in every culture, and on every continent.  Singapore is an exciting place to visit, anyway, but this is just one more reason to make time to get there.

It’s hard not to see why this is such an attractive place for world travelers when you get to stay in Singapore’s hotels, where hospitality and graciousness are everywhere, and there is such an exquisite sense of contemporary life at its best.  All the modern conveniences come with a spectacular sense of old-world world charm, to make for a lovely stay.  If you’ve come for a tour of its spooky side, try to arrange for travel during the 7th lunar month for the Hungry Ghost festival.  If you’re not looking for ghosts, however, there are still a couple of things to be aware of, just out of etiquette and respect for both the living and the dead.

During the Hungry Ghost festival is when most of the traditional practices are visible, but there are celebrations for the dead that can happen any time of year.  It’s nothing to worry about, as long as you use a little common sense and keep your distance, and be quiet when in the presence of things you might not understand.  For example, if you see plates of food laid on the ground, don’t step on them.  These could very easily be food offerings, laid our for the dead ghosts who are only allowed out of hell for one month out of the year.  It’s nothing personal, but there is bad luck for those who do decide to step on sacred food.  You know how you get when someone interrupts you at dinner.  It’s the same thing here.

Michael and Sally were finally able last summer to take their dream vacation to Italy, which they had always talked about doing. Well, they actually only discussed this wish with others in the last two years but they talked about it enough that it felt to friends and relatives like they had been wanting to do it forever. However, last summer the time had finally come and the two of them were going to spend a week and a half in Venice and the surrounding area. They made their flight plans and reservations in one of the hotels Mestre that is located on the mainland as part of the greater Venice area.

The two of them were almost like children in a fairytale when they arrived and were immediately captivated by the historic beauty and the mystique of the town are region. They had a nice little room that gave them a good view of the town Watchtower and they discussed visiting it over coffee and pastry on their first morning. They actually loved the little café they had their morning coffee in that day and while both of them were interested in exploring as many different places, including dining options, as they could when they visited other cities they thought they might enjoy their coffee and pastry there every morning.

The following morning they forced themselves to hold off on coffee or any food items until they had found a new place in the marshy region of Venice. They toured the city in a gondola and were struck by the romantic atmosphere they felt prevailed in the city. While they were there they knew they wanted to attend an opera performance as that was one of the main historic art forms the city is known for. And luckily for the couple there was a performance of Vivaldi’s La Silvia and they were able to get tickets for it. This truly is the most beautiful city in the world they both thought as they returned to their room that evening. And each morning they found a new café they loved as much as the one the day before.

Visiting Singapore is a habit-forming adventure, and there’s never been a better time to come and check out the latest happenings in the city state.  It’s like no other place on earth, with a fantastic array of attractions and events, and there’s something special for visitors of all ages.  People have been drawn to Singapore for a long time now, and it’s cosmopolitan atmosphere might explain some of the appeal.  The fascinating blend of cultures here makes for some very interesting and lively arts and cultural events, and as long as there are new people coming, there are new trends and styles coming from this unique place.  With all the galleries, hotels, and restaurants in Singapore, it’s a tourists feast.

Feast is a good word for anything that happens here, because it’s long history as a major port means that the relics of the spice trade find their way into the spectacular array of ingredients that are always available here, and always fresh.  The culinary activity here is very high, with lots of room for experimentation with taste combinations, and sturdy traditions that keep the same mouth-watering combinations that have pleased generations.  After a delicious meal, it’s always a good time to dance.  There are plenty of places to go every night of the year, and the culture is lively.  Music acts from all over the world come here to perform, and the audiences are very receptive.  You can see some of the best of this in one place if you’re here during ZoukOut.

This fantastic event is almost a decade old now, and is held annually in December.  Held at Siloso Beach, it’s one of the biggest festivals of dance party music in the world.  Here, you can experience the enthusiasm the Singapore has for dance music in general, but in a very distilled form.  This means that for fourteen hours, on three stages, artists from all over the world are playing to an unstoppable crowd.  It’s a very contagious kind of excitement, so prepare to be taken to new levels.